Reclining chair having spring backs and seats



' .n j/ I 5 L 1 I y June 14, 1955 J. M. DORTON 2,710,647

RECLINING CHAIR HAVING SPRING BACKS AND SEATS Filed June'ls, 1949 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 14, 1955 J. DORTON RECLINING CHAIR HAVING SPRING BACKS AND SEATS Filed June 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A? 1 f5 z aw INVENTOR, J 7 fljar/am fa/M June .14, 1955 J. M. DORTON 2,710,647

RECLINING CHAIR HAVING SPRING BACKS AND SEATS Filed June 13, 1-949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V INVENTOR, 9% ill 20/10 United States Patent RECLINING CHAIR HAVING SPRING BACKS AND SEATS John M. Dorton, Bonner Springs, Kans.

Application June 13, 1949, Serial No. 98,663

' '7 Claims. (Cl. 155-159 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in reclining chairs, and is in part an improvement over the chair shown in my copending application, Serial No. 692,432, filed August 23, 1946, which was issued November 14, 1950, as Patent No. 2,529,726.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a reclining chair wherein the back structure is adapted to be adjustably inclined with respect to the seat structure and wherein the chair arms move as said back structure is adjusted so as to be disposed at all times in proper relation to said seat and back structures.

Another object is the provision of a reclining chair having an adjustably inclinable back structure, said back structure having a cushion member attached at its lower edge to the seat cushion member, whereby said back cushion member moves upwardly and downwardly with the seat cushion member as the latter is compressed by the weight of the occupant of the chair.

A further object is the provision of a reclining chair wherein the reclining featureis combined with a folding chair wherein the seat portion is adapted to be folded upwardly against the back portion, as in chairs for use in theaters, auditoriums, and the like.

Still further objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and dependability of "operation, durability, and adaptability for use'wherever a reclining chair is desired.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical mid-section through a reclining and folding chair embodying the present invention, with parts left in elevation, showing the back portion thereof in its upright position in solid lines and in a reclined position in dotted lines. v

Fig. 2 is foreshortened plan view of the chair shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary section takenon line Ill-III of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line VV of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line VI--Vl of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line VII- -VII of Fig. 4, with parts left in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary foreshortened section taken on line VIIIVIII of Fig. l, with parts left in elevation and parts broken away.

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification wherein the reclining feature is adapted to 'a nonfolding chair.

Fig. 10 is a foreshortened plan view of the chair shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on line XIXI of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line XIlXII of Fig. ll.

2,710,647 Patented June 14, 1955 Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views; and in Figs. 1 to 8, the numeral 2 applies to a body frame including two side frames 4 each having a substantially inverted U-shape and being formed of tubular stock. A side panel 6 is disposed in the plane of each of said side frames, being fixed thereto in any suitable manner such as by being inserted in a slot 8 formed along the inner edges of said side frames, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The lower edge portions of panels 6 are formed to present inwardly turned flanges 10 adapted to be fixed to the floor if desired. A vertical back panel 12 extends transversely between and is rigidly fixed to side panels 6. The lower edge portion of back panel 12 is bent forwardly to provide a shelf or stop 14 for a purpose hereinafter described.

- The seat structure 16 of the chair is disposed between side frames 4 and comprises a cushion 18 carried in a pan-like cushion support 20. Said cushion is of any suitable spring-type construction, and is adapted to be resiliently compressed by the weight of the occupant of the chair. Cushion support 20 is carried by a tubular member 22 which is fixed in a transverse groove or indentation 24 formed in the bottom of said support. Said tube extends outwardly from the sides of the seat support, and is oscillatably supported by coaxial stub shafts 26 mounted on plates 28 fixed respectively to side panels 6. Tube 22 is disposed intermediate the front and rear edges of seat 16, so that when the forward edge of the seat is pivoted upwardly and rearwardly, the rearward edgevof the seat will move downwardly. At the same time, the tube 22 is disposed sulficiently close to the rearward edge of the seat that the weight of the occupant will always tend to pivot the seat forwardly.

The back structure 30 of the chair comprises a frame 32 and cushion 34. Said frame comprises a rigid, substantially inverted U-shaped tubular member, having parallel side members 36 and a horizontal connecting member 38 extending between the upper ends of said side members. At their lower ends, side frame members 36 are pivotally connected by means of pivot pins 40 to brackets 42 fixed respectively to the rearward corners of seat cushion support 20. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8,

brackets 42 are formed to present outwardly extending ledges 44 on which are fixed rubber blocks 46 and adapted to be engaged by stops 48 fixed to side panels 6, to limit the upward movement of the rearward edge of seat 16 and thereby retain said seat in proper position for use. Back cushion member 34 is relatively fiat in construction and is resilient. Said cushion is attached along its lower edge. to the rearward edge of seat cushion 18 by any suitable hinge connection 50, and is curved rearwardly and downwardly at its upper edge, as indicated at 52, for

connection with back frame member 38. Thus it will be seen-that as seat cushion 18 is compressed by the weight of the occupant, back cushion 34 will move up- 5 5 wardly and downwardly therewith, resilient extension of back cushion 34 being permitted by the curved portion 52 thereof. This is particularly important in railroad trains, busses, and other conveyances, where constant jostling would produce a friction between the chair back and occupants back which is very fatiguing to the occupant.

Each of side members 36 of back frame 32 is carried slidably in a tubular guide 54. Each of said guides is connected by means of bolt 56 to a tubular slide 58, whereby said guide may be oscillated about a horizontal transverse axis. Bolt 56 passes horizontally and diametrically through the rearward portion of slide 58, and is screwed into a boss 60 formed integrally with guide 54. Each slide 58 is horizontally disposed, and carried for longitudinal sliding movement along bearing tube 62, which is disposed parallelto and just above the horizontal upper member 64 of the associated side frame 4, and which is connected to said upper frame member by an integral web 66. Slide 58 is longitudinally slotted along its lower edge at 68 to accommodate said web. A tension spring 70 is carried within bearing tube 62, said spring being attached at its rearward end to bolt 56 and at its forward end to a disc member 72 which abuts against the forward end of said bearing tube. Said spring thereby urges back structure 30 toward its forward or upright position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 1. When the slide moves to its forward position, bolt 56 enters a slot 74 formed diametrically in the rearward end of bearing tube 62, and the rearward movement of the slide is limited by the engagement of the forward end of bearing tube 62 with the closed forward end 76 of the slide.

Welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to the outer surface of each slide 58 is an elongated angle iron 78 having a broad horizontal flange 80, best shown in Figs. and 6, for supporting the arm cushion 82. As shown in Figs. 3 to 8, said arm cushion comprises a fiat wooden base 84 which may be attached to flange 80 by screws 86, a

pliable cover 88 tacked over said base, and a quantity of padding material 90 packed between said base and said cover. The base 84 of one of the arms is provided with a longitudinal slot 92 in which is mounted a latch lever 94, said latch lever being mounted intermediate its ends on a transverse pivot pin 96 carried by said base. The forward end of said lever normally extends upwardly from base 84, and the rearward end of said lever is formed to present a tine 98 adapted to extend downwardly through a hole 100 formed through angle iron 78 and slide 58, and to enter selectively one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart holes 102 formed in bearing tube 62. The engagement of said tine in any of holes 102 secures slide 58 and arm cushion 82 against sliding movement on bearing tube 62, and thereby locks the chair back at any of several degrees of inclination. A leaf spring 104 is fixed to the upper surface of base 84 and bears at its free end against the rearward end of lever 94, urging tine 98 of said lever into engagement with holes 102 of tube 62. Lever 94 is of course concealed beneath the arm covering 88, but may be operated by hand pressure by pressing on said covering. A sheet 106 of pliable material is interposed between padding 90 and lever 94 and spring 104 to prevent said padding from becoming fouled around the lever and spring. While lever 94 is shown in only one of the chair arms, it is apparent that a similar lever could be installed in the other arm if found desirable.

In operation, the occupant merely presses on the forward end of lever 94 to disengage tine 98 from bearing tube 62, and leans against back cushion 34. The back will then be tilted rearwardly, pivoting about hinge and pivot pins 40, slides 58 moving rearwardly along bearing tubes 62 against the tension of springs 70. When the chair back is at the desired angle of inclination, the occupant releases pressure on lever 94, whereupon spring 104 urges tine 98 of said lever into one of holes 102 of bearing tube 62, thereby securing the chair back firmly in position. To return the back to its upright position, the occupant merely leans forwardly to remove his weight from chair back 30 and presses downwardly on lever 94. Springs then function to pull slides 58 forwardly and to pivot the chair back 30 forwardly as previously described. When seat 16 is tilted rearwardly to fold the chair, brackets 42 rest on shelf 14 of back panel 12, and back frame members 36 slide downwardly through guides 54.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 12, the reclining feature is shown applied to a non-folding chair. The inverted U-shape side frames 108 are rigidly connected by a rectangular angle iron seat support frame 110, which serves as a support for seat cushion 112. The parallel side members 36 of back frame 32 are pivotally connected at their lower ends by pivot pins 114 to brackets 116 rigidly attached to the adjacent side frames 108, and said back frame members lie in the same vertical planes as said side frames. This feature permits the width of the back cushion 34 to be approximately as wide as the space between side frames 108, and fully as wide as seat cushion 112. The arm structure of the modified form, including bearing tube 62, slide 118, cushion 82, latch lever 94, and associated parts, is substantially similar to that of the preferred form. However, slide 118, which corresponds to slide 58 of the preferred form, extends rearwardly from bearing tube 62, and to its rearward end a bracket 120 is secured by bolt 122. Said bolt also serves as an anchor for spring 70. Said bracket is bifurcated to present rearwardly and downwardly extending arms 124, said arms being perforated to receive coaxial trunnions 126 extending radially from opposite sides of a tubular guide 128, which slidably engages the corresponding back frame member 36. The operation of the modified form, insofar as the reclining feature is concerned, is substantially'similar to that of the preferred form.

Thus it is apparent that a reclining chair having several advantages has been produced. The chair arms move in cooperation with the back, so as to be disposed in proper relation to the back and seat at all times, regardless of the angle of inclination of the back. The reclining feature is successfully combined with a floating-motion cushion, or one wherein the back cushion is attached to the seat cushion and moves up and down with the seat cushion as it is compressed by the weight of the occupant. The reclining feature is successfully combined with a floating-motion cushion in a folding chair, wherein the entire back structure must move up and down bodily as the top of the seat cushion moves. The chair is simple in construction, having relatively few and easily fabricated parts. While specific embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it is apparent that many minor variations of construction and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a body frame; a seat structure including a resiliently compressible seat cushion carried by said body frame; a back structure including a rigid back frame having substantially parallel side members pivotally connected at their lower ends to members carried by said body frame in normally fixed relation thereto, and a resiliently extendable back cushion secured at its upper edge to said back frame and hingedly secured at its lower edge to said compressible seat cushion; a tubular guide sleeve carried slidably on each of said parallel back frame members; a pair of arm members carried for forward and rearwad sliding movement by said body frame; means connecting each of said arm members with the associated guide sleeve for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said guide sleeve and said arm member; means for securing said arm members at selected positions of adjustment; and means for urging said arm members forwardly whenever said securing means is released.

2. A reclining and folding chair comprising a body frame, a seat support member carried by said body frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis intermediate the front and rear edges of said support member, a resiliently compressible seat cushion carried by said support member, a back frame member pivotally attached at its lower edge to said seat support, a resiliently extendable back cushion secured at its upper edge to said back frame and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said compressible seat cushion, arm members carried adjustably by said body frame for forward and rearward movement, and a sliding pivotal connection between said back frame and said arm members.

3. A reclining and folding chair comprising a body frame, a seat support member carried by said body frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis intermediate the front and rear edges of said support member, stop members carried by said body frame for limiting the pivotal movement of said seat support member, a resiliently compressible seat cushion carried by said support member, a back frame member pivotally attached at its lower edge to said seat support, a resiliently extendable back cushion secured at its upper edge to said bacl: frame and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said compressible seat cushion, arm members carried adjustably by said body frame for forward and rearward movement, and a sliding pivotal connection between said back frame and said arm members.

4. A reclining and folding chair comprising a body frame, a seat support member carried by said body frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis intermediate the front and rear edges of said support member, a resiliently compressible seat cushion carried by said support member, a back frame having substantially parallel side members pivotally carried at their lower ends by said seat support member, a resiliently extendable back cushion secured at its upper edge to said back frame and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said compressible seat cushion, arm members carried adjustably for forward and rearward movement by said body frame, and guide members carried slidably on said parallel back frame members, said arm members being respectively pivoted to said guide members on a transverse horizontal axis.

5. A reclining and folding chair comprising a body frame, a seat support member carried by said body frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis intermediate the front and rear edges of said support member, a resiliently compressible seat cushion carried by said support member, a back frame having substantially parallel side members pivotally carried at their lower ends by said seat support member, a resiliently extendable back cushion secured at its upper edge to said back frame and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said compressible seat cushion, arm members carried adjustably for forward and rearward movement by said body frame, guide members carried slidably on said parallel back frame members, said arm members being pivotally connected respectively to said guide members on a transverse horizontal axis, means for securing said arm members at various positions of adjustment, and means for urging said arm members forwardly whenever said securing means is released.

6. A reclining and folding chair comprising a body frame, a seat support member carried by said body frame for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis intermediate the front and rear edges of said support member, a resiliently compressible seat cushion carried by said support member, a back frame having substantially parallel side members pivotally carried at their lower ends by said seat support member, a resiliently extendable back cushion secured at its upper edge to said back frame and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said compressible seat cushion, arm members carried slidably on said body frame, guide members carried slidably on said parallel back frame members, said arm members being pivotally connected respectively to said guide members on a transverse horizontal axis, manually operable means for securing said arm members selectively at various positions of adjustment, and springs for urging said arm members forwardly whenever said securing means is released.

7. A reclining chair comprising two spaced apart, substantially planar side frames, a seat support frame rigidly interconnecting said side frames, a resiliently compressible seat cushion carried by said support frame, a back frame having substantially parallel side members lying respectively in the planes of said side frames, said back frame being pivotally attached at its lower edge to said side frames adjacent the rearward edge of said seat cushion, a resiliently extendable back cushion secured at its upper edge to said back frame and hingedly attached at its lower edge to said seat cushion, a tubular guide carried slidably on each of said parallel back frame members, each of said guides having outwardly extending trunnions disposed on a transverse horizontal axis, an arm member carried adjustably at the top of each of said side frames for forward and rearward movement, and a bifurcated bracket secured to the rearward end of each of said arm members, said bracket having arms perforated and receiving pivotally the trunnions of the associated guide members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 125,757 Quirolo Apr. 16, 1873 159,395 Damm Feb. 2, 1875 181,137 Brintnall Aug. 15, 1876 1,879,724 Wolpert Sept. 27, 1932 1,970,480 Wood Aug. 14, 1934 2,090,311 Saltman Aug. 17, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 106,401 Australia Ian. 13, 1939 467,099 Great Britain June 7, 1937 717,556 France Oct. 20, 1931 

